The Color Of The Soul (The Penbrook Diaries) by Tracey Bateman Page A

wept harder and buried her face in his shoulder.
    “Darling, please. Calm down.” Thomas’s
voice held a tone of near panic, and his grip around her tightened. “I’ll never
forgive myself for taking advantage of your innocence.” He reached into his
trouser pocket and produced a handkerchief.
    Cat raised up on
her elbow and dried her eyes. “Thomas, there is something you must know. It
will change everything, but before I tell you, promise me that you’ll always
believe I love you more than life itself.”
    “As I love you.” He pressed her palm
against his lips. A frown creased his flawless brow as she slipped her hand
gently from his. “You can tell me anything, Cat. Especially
now. Nothing will change how I feel about you.”
    Cat’s heart ached, knowing the love in
his eyes would soon change to contempt and anger and, in all likelihood,
hatred.
    She opened her mouth to speak, but her
confession became a gasp as the barn door flung open, allowing frigid air to
blow inside.
    “Pa!” Still bare to the waist, Thomas
shot to his feet. He stepped in front of Cat’s unclothed body to shield her
from two pairs of glaring eyes. Mr. Hanson stood in the doorway with Henry.
    “What are you doing with my girl?” Henry
demanded. Ignoring Thomas’s effort to guard her, Henry stepped around the young
man and grabbed Cat’s upper arm roughly. In spite of herself, she cried out in
startled pain. Standing naked before the men, shame filled her, and she
clutched her clothing close with her free hand.
    “P–please,” she said, her lips
trembling from cold and fear. “M–may I dress?”
    “Shut up, slut.” Henry raised his hand
and brought it hard across her face. The force of the attack sent her crashing
to the ground.
    Thomas knelt beside her, trying to cover
her with her clothing. He glared up at Henry. “What kind of man are you, sir?
I’ve half a mind to call you out.”
    “Tread lightly, Son,” his father
cautioned. “You don’t know the whole truth here.”
    Attempting to shield her nudity from the
other two men, Thomas helped her to her feet, then stood in front of her. “I know that a young lady has just been accosted by this. . .this. . .”
    The blood left Cat’s face at the filthy
word Thomas used to describe Henry. She recognized the warning glint in Henry’s
eyes, but undaunted, Thomas continued. “This lady is unclad and freezing, and
you gentlemen haven’t the decency to avert your gaze and allow her to
dress.”
    “Put on your clothes,” Henry commanded,
jerking his head toward an empty stall. Cat knew from the darkness in his eyes
that the violence he was holding back from Thomas, he would unleash on her as
soon as he had her alone.
    “The least you can do is allow her some
privacy,” Thomas said, his words a command. The older men looked away, but not
before Cat saw Henry’s face redden with fury.
    Cat dressed quickly, watching the
unsteady rise and fall of Thomas’s shoulders. If only she could go to him once
more before he learned the truth.
    As if sensing her need for his strength,
Thomas moved to her, gathering her to him before Henry could grab her again.
“Pa, I know we’re young, but I love Cat. I’m sure you’ll agree that she’s been
compromised, and we have no choice but to marry right away.
    Mr. Hanson regarded Cat for a moment. The
absence of anger in his blue eyes caused more pain than a thousand lashes. His
gentle gaze told her he knew she loved Thomas, but he would never be hers. All
she could do was prevent Thomas from fighting his pa and breaking his ma’s
heart. The outcome of tonight’s disaster lay securely in Cat’s hands. She
nodded to Mr. Hanson, then moved from the protection
of Thomas’s arms.
    Lifting her chin, she turned to face her
beloved, relishing the love in his eyes one last time.
    She squared her shoulders and gathered a
deep breath. “Thomas, it’s not possible for us to marry. You haven’t
compromised me.” She stepped toward